SaskTel collecting too much personal info from customers, says privacy commissioner

(File photo)

Saskatchewan’s privacy commissioner says SaskTel is collecting too much personal information from its customers over the phone.

In a report released Tuesday, Gary Dickson found that SaskTel doesn't have the authority to collect health services numbers and other personal information from its customers as part of its identity verification process.

An investigation was launched in 2008, after a SaskTel customer filed a complaint against the company through the privacy commissioner’s office.

The customer said when he called SaskTel with questions about charges on his bill, an agent asked for his social insurance or health services number to verify his identity.

SaskTel has agreed to most of the recommendations in the report, but has refused to stop collecting health services, social insurance and driver’s license numbers.

It says the personal information is used to conduct credit checks, collect debts and identify customers who are getting a service installed.